What is my native language?

[spectral_sequence]

I’m a bit confused about what I should choose as my native language. I grew up in a country where english is not an official language. But the main language of communication at home with my parents is English. My parents are of indian descent. I can barely speak their native language.

Which of these would you say is my native language? English, local language of country I grew up in or native language of my parents?

[jjmb11]

I would consider it to be the primary language you communicate in or the language used over the course of your education. Don't put a language you aren't fluent in, and if you are equally fluent in English and another language a lot of applications have a spot to put that. I'd put it on your CV as well.

[MathParent]

I’m a bit confused about what I should choose as my native language. I grew up in a country where english is not an official language. But the main language of communication at home with my parents is English. My parents are of indian descent. I can barely speak their native language.

Which of these would you say is my native language? English, local language of country I grew up in or native language of my parents?

Judging from this, you put English as your first language. The rest of the languages can go into other slots. Do not complicate things for yourself! The minute you claim English s not your first language, you will have to take TOEFFL.

[yaskhn3]

Well, if you go by the TOEFL waiver policy of universities, they grant a waiver if you're a US citizen, or did your schooling in a country where English is both the main mode of education and common use.

I would advise you to contact universities immediately and confirm this, but speaking from my own experience, you will need to take TOEFL if you don't have a bachelor's degree or higher from an English speaking country.

[pizzakun]

I’m a bit confused about what I should choose as my native language. I grew up in a country where english is not an official language. But the main language of communication at home with my parents is English. My parents are of indian descent. I can barely speak their native language.

Which of these would you say is my native language? English, local language of country I grew up in or native language of my parents?

Judging from this, you put English as your first language. The rest of the languages can go into other slots. Do not complicate things for yourself! The minute you claim English s not your first language, you will have to take TOEFFL.

I agree with you that it will make our applications smoother as international students.

But wouldn't the application reviewer judges our honesty if we are obviously from a country with a majority of population speaking a non-English language, and that we put down "native language: English"? Just wondering. Maybe I"m just overthinking.

[pkzrd]

I’m a bit confused about what I should choose as my native language. I grew up in a country where english is not an official language. But the main language of communication at home with my parents is English. My parents are of indian descent. I can barely speak their native language.

Which of these would you say is my native language? English, local language of country I grew up in or native language of my parents?

Judging from this, you put English as your first language. The rest of the languages can go into other slots. Do not complicate things for yourself! The minute you claim English s not your first language, you will have to take TOEFFL.

I agree with you that it will make our applications smoother as international students.

But wouldn't the application reviewer judges our honesty if we are obviously from a country with a majority of population speaking a non-English language, and that we put down "native language: English"? Just wondering. Maybe I"m just overthinking.

I think you guys are overthinking about this - just put down whatever language you've been speaking since pre-k, most schools only use this for assigning TA duties anyway

@pizzakun - I like how your school list is a proper subset of mine. Did you by any chance cross register for number theory 2 and are always late by 5-10 minutes?

[pizzakun]

Judging from this, you put English as your first language. The rest of the languages can go into other slots. Do not complicate things for yourself! The minute you claim English s not your first language, you will have to take TOEFFL.

I agree with you that it will make our applications smoother as international students.

But wouldn't the application reviewer judges our honesty if we are obviously from a country with a majority of population speaking a non-English language, and that we put down "native language: English"? Just wondering. Maybe I"m just overthinking.

I think you guys are overthinking about this - just put down whatever language you've been speaking since pre-k, most schools only use this for assigning TA duties anyway

@pizzakun - I like how your school list is a proper subset of mine. Did you by any chance cross register for number theory 2 and are always late by 5-10 minutes?

Lol small world. I usually bike or take the T, Mass Ave is longer than it looks.

Maybe we'll end up in the same program who knows, nevertheless best of luck to you.

[Cyclicduck]

Mine is English!